Demetri Martin Brings Sketches, Songs to Comedy Central

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Former Conan writer gets his own late-night show.

By Matt Fowler

If you like new-fangled "Gen Y" irreverent humor, they you'll flip for Comedy Central's new sketch series Important Things with Demetri Martin. You might have seen Demetri's stand up routine over the years – a combination of sketch doodles, musical numbers and terse Steven Wright-type witticisms.

Important Things was picked up by Jon Stewart's Busboy Productions, Inc. and Martin himself is serving as the creator and executive producer. In its 7-episode run, the show will pick one "important thing" – being object, themes or emotion, to center its humor around. Things like "power" or… "chairs." Acting like one of those improv shows where the audience shouts out the broad ideas, Things' songs and jokes will explore the many aspects of the central-idea.

Martin himself opened himself up to some questions at the TCA press tour, but not before offering up a very amusing sketch-pad presentation for the critics. "This is the best time to do comedy," Martin bemused. "Just after 10 in the morning." It was a great way to break the TCA ice, which can sometimes be rather thick right after breakfast, but Martin's humorous little data-point one offs were very welcome – "Most castles in America are down in fishtanks. We have a submerged monarchy."

Just push play.

When asked about his drawings and his use of art in his routine, Martin said "I like to draw a lot in my notebook. When I'm thinking of jokes I just doodle. I loved Gary Larson growing up." Other comedic influences in Martin's life? Bill Cosby, Old Saturday Night Live, Peter Sellers and, of course, Steven Wright.

Some notable guests on upcoming episodes of Important Things include Home Movies' H. Jon Benjamin, The Daily Show's John Oliver and Amanda Peet.

Important Things with Demetri Martin premieres on Wednesday, February 11th at 10:30pm on Comedy Central.